Are there too many billionaires for a healthy country? World?

[chic]

Yes. There are too many billionaires and they inflict themselves on the rest of us which is what I object to the most. They seem to have a need to insert themselves and their agenda onto our lives and I think this is wrong since their agenda is largely to cyphon from us to them legally

When I was young I didn't even know what a billionaire was. I had to ask my dad and he explained There were so few back then just like there weren't many millionaires either.

Did you know any millionaires or billionaires in your childhood/youth? What did you think of them? What do you think of them now?

 

[Timewise 60+]

I am sure that I have known some and do currently know some! But I cannot be sure as it is difficult to determine who is a billionaire or millionaire.

Some people seem to be rich, but in many cases, they just are carrying a ton of debt. You know the type, a couple of cars, maybe two or three homes, etc., etc. Some of these folks owe more on their debt than they have in the bank rolls. I have never spent time worrying about who was rich or poor, I prefer to judge people based on that they do or don't do and how they treat me and other people.

 

[Pepper]

YES, there are too many and for the reasons you stated, chic. J. Paul Getty was the first Billionaire. My father told me so and made a big deal of it.

I've known millionaires all my life. They were regular people, people I was related to, people my dad grew up with. One of my cousins is a multi millionaire hedge fund guy. My cousin is a great millionaire as he is a slob, really, his clothes get stained He told me most of his co horts are surprisingly stupid.

 

[dilettante]

Did you know any millionaires or billionaires in your childhood/youth?

No.

 

[Inept]

Are there too many billionaires for a healthy country? World?​

Wealth ought to be distributed from the bottom up .... not from the top down. Decide on a livable minimum wage (or maybe unemployment wage) and make sure that NO ONE gets less than that. Let wages and income and uneployment benefits be the bottom rung. Up from there ought to be obvious depending upon abilities and effort. If there are billions "left over" then decide who should get it an why. Who cares? But if the income of the bottom rung is insufficent then there should not be a single billionaire.

 

[Trade]

Yes. There should be zero billionaires. Do you realize how much a billion is? It's a million times 1,000. It would take an ordinary schmuck who makes 50K a year 20,000 years to make a billion. A now we have people that are worth more than 100 billion. This is a sympton of cut throat Capitalism gone wild.

 

[chic]

YES, there are too many and for the reasons you stated, chic. J. Paul Getty was the first Billionaire. My father told me so and made a big deal of it.

I've known millionaires all my life. They were regular people, people I was related to, people my dad grew up with. One of my cousins is a multi millionaire hedge fund guy. My cousin is a great millionaire as he is a slob, really, his clothes get stained He told me most of his co horts are surprisingly stupid.

I knew a few millionaires, some old classmates who got involved with technology and did very well. When I was 12 my family moved to a nicer neighborhood. We had ONE family of millionaires there. I never saw them. They were either traveling or endowing universities. It looked like they never stayed at home.

 

[Timewise 60+]

Inept...your ID on here is correct for you! Your concept of "distributing" from the bottom up would create a socialized population! And we all know how that does not work compared to free market capitalism...

 

[JustDave]

Did you know any millionaires or billionaires in your childhood/youth? What did you think of them? What do you think of them now?

I had a couple of great uncles that were well off. Millionaires? I was too young to know what that was. I did have one uncle, a guy a really liked who was unquestionably a millionaire industrialist. I think we are heading for a time when the wealthy will own 100% of the government. Right now they can bribe and manipulate, but I envision a time when they simply are the government. What we now call politicians, will simply be paid employees.

 

[chic]

I had a couple of great uncles that were well off. Millionaires? I was too young to know what that was. I did have one uncle, a guy a really liked who was unquestionably a millionaire industrialist. I think we are heading for a time when the wealthy will own 100% of the government. Right now they can bribe and manipulate, but I envision a time when they simply are the government.

Yes. You've pinpointed the problem and why it's never solved.

 

[Inept]

Inept...your ID on here is correct for you!

Says you.

Your concept of "distributing" from the bottom up would create a socialized population!

So, you're hung up on the word "distribution". I call that voluntary tunnel vision.

And we all know how that does not work compared to free market capitalism...

Please do not speak for the world. You do not know.

 

[Timewise 60+]

Yes. There should be zero billionaires. Do you realize how much a billion is? It's a million times 1,000. It would take an ordinary schmuck who makes 50K a year 20,000 years to make a billion. A now we have people that are worth more than 100 billion. This is a sympton of cut throat Capitalism gone wild.

You really need to study economics! When someone becomes a billionaire, it does not change the possibility of other people making money and becoming billionaires, millionaires, or just well off. Their gain is not your loss, unless you are in some way tied to the billionaire. In fact most millionaires and billionaires made their fortune by providing goods and/or services to the people. Therefore, doing anything to limit the amount of income/ investments someone has will harm our economy. It is all about Free Market Economics...not controlled economics like Russia, Cuba, etc...

Inept...And please don't assume you know anything about me...because you don't!

 

[Trade]

You really need to study economics! When someone becomes a billionaire, it does not change the possibility of other people making money and becoming billionaires, millionaires, or just well off. Their gain is not your loss, unless you are in some way tied to the billionaire. In fact most millionaires and billionaires made their fortune by providing goods and/or services to the people. Therefore, doing anything to limit the amount of income/ investments someone has will harm our economy. It is all about Free Market Economics...not controlled economics like Russia, Cuba, etc...

Inept...And please don't assume you know anything about me...because you don't!

 

[Inept]

You really need to study economics! When someone becomes a billionaire, it does not change the possibility of other people making money and becoming billionaires, millionaires, or just well off. Their gain is not your loss, unless you are in some way tied to the billionaire. In fact most millionaires and billionaires made their fortune by providing goods and/or services to the people. Therefore, doing anything to limit the amount of income/ investments someone has will harm our economy. It is all about Free Market Economics...not controlled economics like Russia, Cuba, etc...

That's rather naïeve.

Inept...And please don't assume you know anything about me...because you don't!

I don't know anything about you personally but your contribution to this subject so far has definitely been immature.

 

[Timewise 60+]

That's rather naïeve.

I don't know anything about you personally but your contribution to this subject so far has definitely been immature.

So you think your comment was not immature...you kind of stepped in your own mess...so move on!

 

[dilettante]

Sometimes it feels like people think money is a finite resource lying on the ground that some people have managed to greedily grab leaving others without.

Money is just a proxy for labor, resources, or labor and skill applied to resources in ways that create more valuable products. Producing a big, sweet, ripe, juicy peach has value. Producing them in quantity over a long season adds more value. Getting peaches to you in good condition so you have access to them adds more value. Canning peaches so any excess doesn't just spoil and getting that to you also adds value.

So you trade for peaches, generally using the proxy (money) yourself.

But if you sit with your thumbs up your butt knitting cat mittens for your 12 familiars you won't be getting any money. No money, no peaches.

What makes you think you deserve money from Heaven?

 

[Inept]

So you think your comment was not immature...you kind of stepped in your own mess...so move on!

Yes, I'll move on. You just remain in "the mess".

 

[Trade]

This thread has brought back memories of a TV show I used to wach when I was a kid.

 

[Inept]

This thread has brought back memories of a TV show I used to wach when I was a kid.

I remember that series. I also remember a W C Fields film where someone ran into his car and when later he won a million dollars he bought a whole fleet of cars and crashed them into other drivers one at a time!

 

[Aunt Bea]

I’m fine with billionaires.

It’s interesting to me that so many people hate them yet keep using the products and services they create, rely on them to make a living, and invest in their companies.

 

[HermitHogan]

Billionaires have far too much power in a democracy, such as ours. They have the ability to buy influence and have legislation tailored to their wants and needs. It's supposed to be that everyone's vote is equal, but that's not the case any more. Just look at all the money Meta and Amazon, are "donating" to the upcoming inauguration. They're buying influence is what they're doing. Best damn government money can buy.

 

[Marquest]

Sometimes it feels like people think money is a finite resource lying on the ground that some people have managed to greedily grab leaving others without.

Money is just a proxy for labor, resources, or labor and skill applied to resources in ways that create more valuable products. Producing a big, sweet, ripe, juicy peach has value. Producing them in quantity over a long season adds more value. Getting peaches to you in good condition so you have access to them adds more value. Canning peaches so any excess doesn't just spoil and getting that to you also adds value.

So you trade for peaches, generally using the proxy (money) yourself.

But if you sit with your thumbs up your butt knitting cat mittens for your 12 familiars you won't be getting any money. No money, no peaches.

What makes you think you deserve money from Heaven?

You are completely forgetting or ignoring inherited wealth.

 

[Marquest]

I remember that series. I also remember a W C Fields film where someone ran into his car and when later he won a million dollars he bought a whole fleet of cars and crashed them into other drivers one at a time!

I loved that TV show! My sister and I would seriously discuss what we would do in his position, who we would give money to. And while I'm talking to you, Inept: don't let the razzing of your so-called "socialism" bother you--I think your posts here are grea:

 

[dilettante]

You are completely forgetting or ignoring inherited wealth.

Well don't worry.

The EU wants a digital currency with no cash. These Euros will be issued with timers, and after a period of time they disappear from your account and the value reverts to the Uber-State. Spend it fast or lose it. Can't have savers in the world!

 

[rgp]

I’m fine with billionaires.

It’s interesting to me that so many people hate them yet keep using the products and services they create, rely on them to make a living, and invest in their companies.

I agree here !!